ROTHERHAM UNITED: Wrong Argyle sacking was over cash and Kari

Les Payne
Rotherham United

KARI Arnason may just have a rueful look as he glances across at tomorrow’s opponents Plymouth Argyle ahead of the clash at the New York Stadium.

Not that the Rotherham United midfielder has anything against any of the players. They weren’t the ones responsible for him getting unlawfully sacked at the West Country club simply for saying he wanted paying!

As he hadn’t been paid for six months at a time when the club was in financial meltdown in 2010/11 and eventually went into administration, Arnason declined to defer his wages once again - and the club sacked him in June 2011.

It was against Football League rules.

Arnason, who has a business degree, commented at the time: “You don’t expect to be fired for not signing a document saying you will not get paid.”

It meant Arnason became a free agent in the summer of 2011 leading to a season at Aberdeen and Rotherham boss Steve Evans, having already noted him from his time at Plymouth, kept tabs on him at Pittodrie last season.

It was a surprise to many when the current Icelandic international pitched up with the Millers and Evans was overjoyed with the signing.

Arnason’s value to Rotherham’s promotion push has been evident when he has played and is reflected in games played and missed.

His return last Saturday has been followed by two wins which means his nine appearances have featured just one defeat. The six games he has missed, due to international duty and including absence for an injury he picked up with Iceland, have seen four defeats.

Whether at the back or in his preferred midfield, Arnason has looked a class act and boss Evans has not been slow to eulogise over a player who can be regarded as his major signing of the summer.

No doubt Arnason, keen to bag his first goal for the Millers, would enjoy getting it tomorrow and help the Millers gain some momentum as they look to add to their two wins of the past week.

The Arnason partnership in central midfield with loan man Lee Frecklington has already looked a fruitful one and they complement each other nicely.

Plymouth went down 2-1 at Cheltenham in midweek but Evans says he expects a stiff test - “they have had some impressive results recently, including away,” he said.

Evans is likely to stick with the same side which beat Morecambe but said such a selection wasn’t guaranteed.

“Plymouth play differently to Morecambe and so we will look at that and we might decided on a change,” said Evans who looks unlikely to secure, ahead of the game, the striker he had inquired about this week.

Plymouth will be without ever-present midfielder Conor Hourihane who serves a one-match ban for five bookings. He is likely to be replaced by former Chesterfield midfielder Jamie Lowry. At left back is Scott Griffiths who was on loan with Rotherham late last season.

The Millers reserves drew 1-1 at Walsall with a goal from Jason Taylor.

Next week’s reserves clash with Mansfield at Parkgate has been moved to Tuesday, October 30 (2pm).